College should examine Marriott's contract, instead of raising rent

To the Editor:

Most OSCA members are by now aware of the contentious tinge to OSCA-College rent contract negotiations. The College's latest unacceptable proposal-to make OSCA a "service management" provider, sacrificing OSCA autonomy and student control-is the latest evidence that the College is not bargaining in good faith.

Why has the College picked this time to raise the rent OSCA pays, risk compromising the co-operative experience and be generally difficult at the bargaining table? To approach this answer, let's look at a different set of negotiations.

Marriott, the corporation which runs CDS, was originally scheduled to be in negotiations with the College right now. The College had planned to take bids this spring from other contractors to determine what company would run Oberlin's dining halls most effectively.

Just as the College was gearing up for this process, Marriott began its plans for entirely revamping CDS. The components of these changes are widely known: seven- and 14-meal plans, flex dollars, convenience store in Wilder, renovation of Dascomb, extended dining hall hours, elimination of non-medical off-board exemptions.

When these proposals were unveiled, the College decided to extend its contract with Marriott for two years beyond the old deadline, to allow time for implementing the changes. This decision is typical of the College's continual deference to Marriott. The College should not have shrunk from holding Marriott accountable to the community this year, especially now that the corporation is proposing major changes to dining at Oberlin which may harm town businesses and the people who work in CDS.

If we let these changes take place unchallenged for the next two years, we may find ourselves saddled with adverse effects that could take the next twenty years to pay for or undo. Remember, we will all still be paying for the misguided construction of Stevenson, well into the next century.

Are the proposed dining changes good for Oberlin College, town, and students? Are "flex dollars" really the only way to allow students to eat fewer than 21 meals a week? What if everybody hates the changes, and then we want to engage a new contractor two years from now? The College should be asking Marriott these and other hard questions, but is making life hard on OSCA instead.

The College has asked OSCA to agree to an increase in rent paid to the College. Is this because student dining isn't producing enough revenue for the College? Before asking OSCA, a non-profit student organization, to fork over more money, the College should investigate Marriott's profit margins: a recent audit found Marriott overcharged 49 percent of its food service customers. Marriott also has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in the past decade to conservative Republican candidates for office. Is this where we want our board bills going?

Other institutions, including state universities such as the University of Virginia, open up bidding on their food services every 3-5 years, ensuring students get the best value for their money, from a company that operates in accord with the ethics of the institution. [By the way, Marriott is a notoriously union-busting corporation. Marriott employees at Oberlin, including workers in the Rat and the Snack Bar, have been prohibited from unionizing.]

Oberlin hasn't had open bidding in over 40 years, according to some sources. This gives Marriott the message that they have free rein over Oberlin's dining services. The College hasn't challenged Marriott to think outside of its narrow routine, and the result has been sub-standard dining halls at Oberlin for as long as any student can remember. This is a fundamental problem with the Oberlin-Marriott relationship which needs to be addressed.

But cracking down on OSCA is not the answer. The College must start bargaining fairly with OSCA and stop asking hard-working co-opers to make sacrifices to account for problems with the Oberlin-Marriott relationship.

-Sara Marcus, College junior, Member of Housing & Dining Advisory Commission and Dining Loose Ends Co-ordinator of Old Barrows Co-op

Join OhioPIRG's Hunger Clean-up

To the Editor:

This Saturday, Ohio PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) is conducting a one-day service event: The 17th Annual National Hunger Clean-up! We have 15 teams of volunteers so far and welcome all Oberlin community members and students to participate.

Basically, each volunteer works either a morning or afternoon shift (or both) at one of many available service sites. Teams do many kinds of service, ranging from outdoor aesthetic work to volunteering at Haven Shelter to working with elderly persons in need. Volunteers obtain sponsorships (sort of like a walk-a-thon) for their hours, and the money raised goes to help local, national and international non-profit organizations fight hunger and homelessness.

All are welcome and encouraged to participate! We can make a difference in our community and our country!

-Jessica Kennedy, College first-year, OhioPIRG Media